Trinitas Dedicates New $5.2 Million Ambulatory Surgery Center

Mayor J. Christian Bollwage of the City of Elizabeth did the ribbon cutting honors at the dedication of the newly-constructed Ambulatory Surgery Center at Trinitas Regional Medical Center in Elizabeth. Along with the Mayor are, from left, Gary S. Horan, FACHE, President & Chief Executive Officer of Trinitas, Victor Richel, Vice Chairman of Trinitas Health and Regional Medical Center, Sr. Rosemary Moynihan, SC, Chairperson of Trinitas Health and Regional Medical Center, and the Honorable Raymond J. Lesniak, 20th New Jersey Legislative District. (Photo courtesy of Trinitas)

ELIZABETH — Trinitas Regional Medical Center has realized its vision of creating an Ambulatory Surgery Center at its main campus in Elizabeth with a 9,500 square foot facility now located in the Andrew H. Campbell Pavilion on the Williamson Street Campus. Trinitas hosted a dedication of the facility — the newest in the tri-state region — this week for its Board Members, physicians, donors, and state, county and local dignitaries and community leaders.

With three operating rooms dedicated to same-day outpatient surgeries, the spacious and modern $5.2 million facility will be integrated into the existing operating room services at Trinitas. New equipment for these operating rooms, a recovery area with three bays, a pre-op area and a step-down area complete the facilities of the Center.

According to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) study released in 2009 containing the first available data about outpatient surgery visits, the number of such visits increased from 20.8 million visits in 1996 to 34.7 million in 2006. The CDC’s data were collected from 142 hospitals and 295 free standing centers as part of its National Survey of Ambulatory Surgery. The study further showed that 19.9 million visits to hospital ambulatory surgery centers outpaced the number of visits to free standing centers totaling 14.9 million.

“As the report from the CDC revealed, hospital-based surgical centers represented 57% of such surgeries, 14% higher than those done at free standing centers, Trinitas realized that this was an answer to the health care needs of those we serve in Elizabeth and the greater Central New Jersey area as well. In short, we viewed the creation of the Ambulatory Surgery Center as a strategic imperative, an opportunity for expansion,” asserted Gary S. Horan, FACHE, President & Chief Executive Officer.

The state-of-the-art Ambulatory Surgery Center will begin taking patients in early March. Records show that the 5,341 same-day surgeries performed at Trinitas in 2013 surpassed the 4,573 surgeries in 2012. As evidenced by data from the past two years, the Ambulatory Surgery Center is expected to respond effectively to the increased volume of patients seeking same-day surgeries.

“The beauty of having a hospital-based ambulatory surgery center is that there is immediate access to the full services of the rest of our facility. This is added assurance for our patients who will come to this new Center for same-day surgeries,” noted Horan in his remarks at the dedication ceremony.

Senator Raymond J. Lesniak of the 20th New Jersey Legislative District praised Trinitas as being “the heart and soul of Elizabeth,” stressing his confidence in the staff.

Hernia repair, gall bladder surgery and cataract removal are among same day surgeries that reflect the growing and changing needs of the community.

“By providing a new facility, we will support the work of our current medical staff, strengthen our ability to recruit new physicians, and assure patients of a superior patient experience,” noted Mr. Horan.

Numerous organizations, foundations, and individual donors contributed $2 million for the construction of the new facility. “We thank all of these entities and individuals for their generous support to help us realize the vision for our new Ambulatory Surgery Center,” said Nadine Brechner, Vice President and Chief Development Officer. “With the rapid changes in technology and growth in this type of service for patients, we are confident that our new Center will be able to serve patients in a superior setting with superior care.”